Parents’ input sought in survey by Minooka Grade School District
By Kris Stadalsky Correspondent January 28, 2013 11:16AM
Updated: March 5, 2013 6:07AM
Parents will have an opportunity to weigh in on how effective their schools are in an online survey, called Illinois 5Essentials, hosted by the Minooka Grade School District.
The survey originated as a research project at the University of Chicago for the Chicago Public School system. It is based on 20 years of research by the university’s Consortium on Chicago School Research and is now being made available to all school districts in Illinois.
Researchers discovered five components that indicate how effective a school is: effective leaders, collaborative teachers, involved families, supportive environments and ambitious instruction.
“Schools that scored strong on these (components) were 10 times more likely to demonstrate improved student learning,” Superintendent Al Gegenheimer said.
The survey is being made available to all parents and teachers, and students in grades 6-12.
The district is requiring all its teachers to take the survey. The student and parent surveys take about 20 minutes to complete.
The responses will help guide school improvement initiatives.
Parents will receive a letter with more information about the survey and how and when to take it.
Gegenheimer is confident the district will show strengths in all five components.
